Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys: Career Overview
Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. May play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.
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What Do Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Take On?
Typical responsibilities of broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys span:
- Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
- Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
- Operate control consoles.
- Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts.
- Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews.
- Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.
- Record commercials for later broadcast.
- Keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Anchor
- Announcer
- Board Operator
- Broadcaster
- Commercial Announcer
- DJ (Disc Jockey)
- Entertainer
- Game Show Host
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 148,750 broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +8.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $108,419 |
| Hourly median | $52.12 |
| 10th percentile | $74,389 |
| 25th percentile | $91,404 |
| 75th percentile | $125,434 |
| 90th percentile | $142,449 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $73,930 |
| Maryland | $72,080 |
| New York | $71,570 |
| Indiana | $61,350 |
| Colorado | $59,510 |
| Massachusetts | $58,320 |
| New Jersey | $58,020 |
| Nevada | $57,490 |
| Alaska | $50,840 |
| Rhode Island | $50,650 |
| Utah | $49,050 |
| Idaho | $47,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,290 |
| Florida | $46,780 |
| Virginia | $46,280 |
| Hawaii | $45,840 |
| New Hampshire | $45,740 |
| Michigan | $45,500 |
| North Dakota | $44,990 |
| South Dakota | $43,490 |
| Minnesota | $43,270 |
| Texas | $43,130 |
| Nebraska | $42,840 |
| Oregon | $42,410 |
| Washington | $42,400 |
| Illinois | $42,240 |
| Tennessee | $41,010 |
| Wisconsin | $40,490 |
| Missouri | $39,280 |
| North Carolina | $39,260 |
| Maine | $38,840 |
| Arizona | $38,830 |
| New Mexico | $38,530 |
| Alabama | $37,040 |
| Kansas | $36,680 |
| Wyoming | $36,670 |
| Vermont | $35,440 |
| Montana | $35,360 |
| Georgia | $35,090 |
| West Virginia | $35,050 |
| Ohio | $35,030 |
| Oklahoma | $34,740 |
| Mississippi | $32,900 |
| Iowa | $30,490 |
| South Carolina | $29,870 |
| Kentucky | $29,420 |
| Arkansas | $29,120 |
| Louisiana | $27,620 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,630 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $62,547 | 14.7% | 1.13 |
| Far Western US | $60,909 | 15.0% | 1.04 |
| Rocky Mountains | $50,964 | 3.5% | 1.04 |
| Great Lakes | $45,906 | 17.9% | 1.37 |
| Southwest | $40,888 | 8.8% | 0.77 |
| Plains States | $39,682 | 11.9% | 1.86 |
| Southeast | $38,069 | 23.4% | 1.06 |
| New England | $34,390 | 4.3% | 1.12 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $126,550 | 380 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $102,300 | 1,670 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $88,560 | 150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $78,350 | 860 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $75,330 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $73,630 | 220 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $72,080 | 140 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $68,390 | 250 |
Which Industries Hire Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Most broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Information | 20,720 | $44,230 |
| Educational Services | 1,410 | $62,450 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,290 | $58,830 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 130 | $97,330 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 60 | $43,940 |
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys work in the following industries:
Software Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Time Pressure
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How to Become Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Most broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (Supplemental)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators (Supplemental)
- Actors (Supplemental)
- Producers and Directors (Primary-Short)
- Media Programming Directors (Primary-Short)
- Talent Directors (Supplemental)
- Media Technical Directors/Managers (Primary-Short)
- Disc Jockeys, Except Radio (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Future broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys commonly pursue programs in:
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
5 programs across 4 majors
- Communication & Media Studies
- Radio, TV & Digital Communication
- Public Relations & Advertising
- Journalism
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-3011.00 (Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys).
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